Electrical boat bail device



1962 A D SPURLOCK 3,018,751

ELECTRICAL BOAT BAIL DEVICE Filed May 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

A D SPURLOCK i a aw ATTOR NEV United States Patent )fiice 3,018,751 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 3,il18,751 ELECTRHJAL BGA'I BAIL DEVICE A ll) purloeln Dawson, Ga. Filed May 27, 1959, er. No. 816,222 2 Claims. (Cl. 1l4--]l97) This invention relates to an electrical boat bail device and particularly to a device of that sort to be fastened to the drain opening at the stern of the boat and operable by remote electrical control to open the drain and bail the boat as it moves through the water.

This application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 758,243, dated September 2, 1958, and entitled Boat Bail Devices.

In my copending patent application identified above, there is shown a straight mechanical boat bail device which is attached to the drain plug of a boat to be operated by mechanical remote control to open and close the drain valve for purposes of bailing the boat as it moves through the water. The present device is an electrical form of the previous invention and contains a combination of mechanical and electrical combination and arrangement whereby the present device is attached as in the previous invention to the drain plug at the stern of the boat, but it may be operated solely by electrical control from the dashboard or any other place through electrical connection from the conventional 6 v. or 12 v. electrical system provided in most outboard or inboard motors.

Water accumulates in the bottom of a boat and it is accepted by boat owners and operators as being necessary from time to time in the operation of the boat to remove the water therefrom. It has been known heretofore, and as pointed out in my aforementioned pending application, that this water can be drained from the boat through the suction action at the stern of the boat created when the boat attains sufiicient speed through the water. However, it has always been a problem attempting to provide suitable and satisfactory means at the stern of the boat whereby an opening may be created long enough to empty the inside water therefrom, but with sufiicient protection and convenience so that there is no possibility that water from the outside will seep into the inside. Obviously in using or creating an opening below the water line, or even adjacent the water line in a boat, there is a serious danger of having created an opening into which at some time water may leak possibly in large quantities sufficiently enough to swamp the boat. In my previous invention I have provided a safe and effective boat drain opening and closure device actuatable by remote control from the dash panel of the boat. Likewise, in this present application, I provide an equally safe and eifective boat drain opening and closure device but which is operated electrically.

Generally described, without any restriction on the scope of my invention, as defined by the claims hereof, the present device consists of a base housing or base casting generally of cylindrical cross-section with a drain tube portion formed as a part thereof, and having a front flanged member through which attaching screws may be inserted and tightened at a point adjacent a drain opening. The drain opening at this point is provided with a spool-like pipe permanently fastened therein and having a short flanged tube positioned in the inside opening thereof against a circular neoprene washer. The large cylindrical end of the housing is internally threaded and the small tube screws into the housing which is also attached in place and sealed around the inside of the stern tube. A portion of the main barrel of the base casting is discontinuous at the top and the bottom to permit water to enter therein. In-

tegrally formed with the main cylinder of the base cast ing is a smaller tube having an internally threaded end open therein. Mounted Within this tube for reciprocating motion therein is a solenoid actuated plunger having a water seal arrangement attached to one end thereof consisting of an inner metal circular washer, a smaller outer metal clamping washer, and an immediate neoprene rubber pressure sealing gasket washer held in place by a screw threaded into the end of the plunger. The internal end of the plunger, which is normally recipro eating inside the small barrel of the base casting, tapers in a conical shape to a small rod-like projection or tail which extends upwardly substantially throughout the length of this device. This is the inner core portion of the solenoid. Threadedly attached into the inwardly threaded end of the tube is a solenoid pole member which has a recessed bottom portion complementary to the conical portion of the movable plunger. This core is of suitable iron or metal material for electrical sole noid purposes. The upper outward end of the core is inwardly threaded at an open bore thereof to receive a safety top screw removably threaded therein and connected to the base by means of a chain, so that when it is removed it will hang adjacent thereto. The sole noid winding assembly encompasses most of the tube and the core and consists of a casing in which there is wound a number of turns of electric wire forming suitable solenoid winding. In one embodiment there would be eighteen turns of eighty windings each of a size 22 copper magnet wire. Interposed between the rigidly attached base casting and the large metal Washer of the pressure Washer assembly is a large coil spring normally urging the pressure sealing neoprene washer into firm contact with the short plug and the drain tube. When the safety cap screw is screwed down av certain amount it forces the tail of the plunger and pushes the whole plunger assembly and neoprene washer tightly against the short tube in the drain thereby locking the device against accidental opening for safety purposes. In the operation of the device suitable electrical leads from the solenoid windings would be connected to the conventional boat battery through a switch control which may be actuated from off-on position. The device will not operate until the cap screw is removed since operation of the solenoid with the cap in place will have no effect insofar as lifting the plunger is concerned. With the cap removed, operation of the solenoid lifts the plunger pulling the complementary portions into engagement and lifting the tail of the plunger up into the bore of the core.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an electrically controlled boat bail device which can be electrically actuated to open the drain tube of a boat from a remote position and likewise to close said drain from a remote position.

An additional object is found in the safety locking feature of this device, wherein the solenoid cannot function to open the valve as long as the safety is in place.

A further object of this invention is found in the particular assembly arrangement of the different parts making up this device whereby manufacture is simple and expedient, assembly and disassembly may be performed with a minimum of difficulty, and attaching in a boat drain tube may be performed in a short time with no special tools.

Another advantage of this invention is found in the particular arrangement of the solenoid, the inner solenoid pole, and the solenoid plunger and pressure washer seal arrangement whereby maximum effectiveness is attained through an unique arrangement of parts.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a central horizontal cross-sectional view of my electrically operated boat bail device positioned on the stern drain tube of a boat.

FIG. 2 is a top plan full-line view of the device shown in FIG. 1, with a portion of the filter screen broken away exposing the pressure seal plunger in retracted position.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view in perspective of the parts of my invention as they would be assembled to complete the device shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to the various figures of the drawing, my device is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof attached to the stern portion of a boat through the stern material thereof, which may be fiber-glass, wood, or any boat building material, and which has rigidly mounted therein a spool-like stern drain tube 12 of tubular cross-section with inward flanged end 14 and outward flanged end 16. My device is normally attached to the stern material 10 over and around the stern tube 12 so that Water may not enter or exit therefrom except through the openings provided in the instant device, which is designated generally by the number 18.

The device 18' comprises a base member 20 having a large cylindrical barrel portion 22 with a portion of the top thereof removed to permit water to enter therein and having extended therefrom a smaller tubular or cylindrical barrel portion 24 which has the inner outward end thereof internally threaded at 26. Cylinder 22 has a flanged inner end 28 with internal threads therein and with attaching screw openings 30 therein through which attaching screws 32 fasten into the boats stern material 10. Surrounding the main cylindrical portion 22 and covering the discontinuous open parts thereof is a filter screen 34 removably seated thereon to filter all water entering therethrough.

A short, inner, stern tube member 36, with threaded flanged end 38 screwed into end of cylinder 22, fits in the open inward end of tube 12 complementary with the flanged end 16 thereof and sealing between the flanges 16, 38 a soft presusre washer 40 of neoprene, rubber, plastic, or the like.

Mounted within the smaller barre] or tube 24 for reciprocating motion therein, is a generally cylindrical plunger member 42 with a conical end portion 44 extending to form an elongated rod-like tail member 46. A solenoid core or pole member 48 has one end thereof 50 threaded into the threaded end 26 and is formed with an open bore 52 therethrough. Bore 52 has positioned therein the tail 46 of plunger 42 which will move longitudinally therethrough. The lower end of pole 48 inside tube 24 has a conical depression 53 formed therein which is complementary with the conical shape 44 of plunger 42. The other end 54 of pole 48 has the inside bore thereof threaded to receive the safety cap screw member 56 connected from an S-hook by a length of chain 58 with another S-hook on the neck formed on its end 54. Surrounding the pole'48 and the barrel 24 there is mounted a solenoid winding arrangement encased above a bottom cap 59 in a casing or housing 60 and consisting of a plurality of electrical windings wound upon themselves to substantially about the core or pole 48 and covered by an end cap 61. In one form of this invention there would be 80 revolutions of wire along the length of the winding of one turn for a total of 18 turns within the casing 60. A size 22 copper magnet wire has been found satisfactory for this purpose. Windings 62 terminate in a pair of winding leads 64 which in turn may be connected through suitable off-on switch means remotely positioned from the stern material It) somewhere else on the boat. Electricity is obtained through the usual volt electrical system of either 6 or 12 V. DC. or whatever electrical current is available on the boat, or a special battery may be carried for this purpose.

The bottom of plunger 42 receives thereon a pressure washer assembly consisting of an inner metal washer 68 against the terminal end of plunger 42, an outer smaller metal lock washer 70 which confines a soft pressure seal washer 71 of neoprene, plastic, or the like against the metal washer 68 through the action of an attaching screw 72 threading into the end of plunger 42. A coil spring 74, confined between one end of housing 22 and the metal washer 68, firmly presses the neoprene pressure washer into engagement and seats it against the flange 38 of the short tube 36, so as to tightly seal the stern drain tube 12 from the outside water.

When the boat is in substantial non-use, the safety cap screw 56 is in position pushing against the tail 46 and holding the plunger 42 and the pressure seal washer 72 firmly in place against the stern tube 36 thereby tightly sealing the boat preventing any water from entering therein. However, when it is anticipated that the water inside the boat will be drained therefrom, the operator manually removes the cap 56, allowing it to hang from its chain 58, and then returns to the cockpit seat of the boat and operates the motor to start the boat in motion through the water. At the proper time a remote control electric switch which conveniently would be located near the hand of the operator at the dash panel would be closed to energize through the leads 64 the windings 62 of the solenoid, thereby lifting the plunger 42 upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 1 to bring the complementary end 44 into the complementary depression 53 of the pole 48, against the resistance of the spring 74. The motion of the boat through the water will drain what water is within the boat through the tube 12 and when this has been completed, the operator operates the switch at the dash panel to break the energization of the solenoid thereby permitting the spring 74 to return the plunger 42 and pressure seal washer firmly in engagement with the short tube 36 thereby sealing the drain tube 12. Normally the operator will leave the safety lock 56 disengaged while using the boat thereby leaving the device 18 ready for use at any time. However, if the operator plans to leave the boat and desires to render the device inoperative he may return to the location of this device 18 and reseat cap 56 in place, thereby eliminating any chance that the device will he accidentally dislodged or operated.

My particular arrangement of the solenoid windings about the conical plunger 42 and pole 48 with recessed complementary end provides a completely dependable electrical operation in a device of overall size and weight which is readily mountable in a boat without objectionable use of space. The fact that spring 74 constantly urges the washer into seating position is a safety factor within itself and the additional safety feature of the cap 56 makes this device perfectly foolproof which is important in the operation of small boats by substantially inexperienced personnel.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my electrically operated device, this is by no means the only tangible expression thereof, since there are various alterations, substitutions, eliminations, changes, and deviations which may be made from the embodiment shown and described, without departing from the scope of my appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrically controlled boat bail device for attachment on the stern of a boat in conjunction with an open drain opening form therein, a cylindrical housing having an opening therein, and provided with a base member thereon which is seated against the boat at the drain opening, to be attached thereto, a short barrel member projecting from said housing, a reciprocating drain closure plunger mounted within said cylinder and said barrel and adapted to reciprocate therein, said plunger having a conical end portion thereon extending to form a rod-like tail member projecting outwardly therefrom a solenoid pole member rigidly attached on said tube and having an open bore therein in which said rod-like tail member moves, said pole having a complementary depression formed therein facing said conical portion of said plunger, a washer assembly on said plunger member including an inner metal washer and an outer retaining member retaining a pressure seal washer thereagainst, and a spring member interposed between said base member and said washer assembly normally urging said pressure washer member into sealed position in said drain tube, electrical solenoid winding means mounted on said base member in an electrical position with said pole member to energize same when said windings are energized from an electrical source whereby said solenoid windings may be energized to lift said plunger member with said pressure seal washer thereon, thereby opening said drain tube to receive water therein through the opening in said main base housing.

2. The device in claim 1 including a safety member detachably attachable on said housing to engage said plunger member and thereby to prevent movement of same when in place thereon, said plunger being operable when said safety member is removed, whereby said safety member prevents accidental operation of said boat bail device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,849 Schweitzler Sept. 21, 1926 1,668,928 Wardle May 8, 1928 1,910,909 'Werder May 23, 1933 2,697,581 Ray Dec. 21, 1954 2,730,062 Mitchell Jan. 10, 1956 2,827,923 Sadler Mar. 25, 1958 

